Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised the leadership record of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, describing his performance in government and the banking sector as mediocre.
Shettima made the remarks on Saturday, November 7, 2026, while addressing supporters at the Rainbow Coalition presidential campaign rally in Rivers State, organised in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
A video of the Vice-President’s remarks was shared on X by @Imranmuhdz, amid growing political exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election.
Shettima questions Obi’s leadership record
Speaking at the rally, Shettima questioned Obi’s achievements during his eight years as Anambra State governor and his previous involvement in the banking industry.
“Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State for eight years, and his performance was mediocre. He was also a chairman of a bank in Nigeria, and his performance there was equally mediocre. It was after his exit that the bank started working stronger,” the Vice-President said.
The criticism comes as Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, seeks to challenge Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.
Shettima’s remarks also followed his criticism of Obi during an APC presidential rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday.
According to Channels Television, the Vice-President accused the former governor of relying on misleading statistics and questioned his political credibility.
Obi’s governorship record draws renewed scrutiny
Obi served as governor of Anambra State between March 2006 and March 2014, although his tenure was interrupted by legal and political disputes that were subsequently resolved by the courts.
During his administration, the state implemented programmes covering education, healthcare, infrastructure and public financial management.
The former governor has frequently defended his record, particularly his administration’s savings, investment policies and management of public funds.
However, his financial record has recently become a subject of disagreement between him and the Anambra State Government under Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The state government previously alleged that Obi’s administration contracted eight external loan facilities with a combined value of $123.77m.
Obi rejected the suggestion that the entire amount represented debt outstanding when he left office.
He maintained that the facilities involved development programmes supported by international institutions and called for a distinction between approved loans, funds actually disbursed and outstanding balances.
An examination of Debt Management Office records by Premium Times showed that Anambra’s external debt stood at approximately $30.32m in December 2013, the last available year-end figure before Obi left office.
The review also noted that the state’s claim involved the original value of multiyear loan facilities, making direct comparisons with the recorded debt stock incomplete without additional disbursement information.
Shettima challenges Obi’s banking experience
Beyond Obi’s governorship, the Vice-President also questioned his previous role in Nigeria’s banking sector.
Before entering government, Obi served as chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.
The bank’s 2006 annual report confirmed that he stepped down as chairman following his emergence as Anambra State governor.
However, Shettima did not provide specific financial indicators or comparative performance figures to substantiate his assessment of Obi’s leadership at the bank.
The claim that the institution performed better after Obi’s departure would require an examination of its financial results across the relevant periods.
Tinubu, Shettima intensify criticism of Obi
The latest remarks come shortly after President Tinubu criticised Obi’s handling of erosion challenges during his tenure in Anambra.
Speaking at the APC rally in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, Tinubu contrasted Obi’s record with efforts to address coastal erosion in Lagos during his own governorship.
The President’s comments prompted a response from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which accused the current administration of excessive borrowing and inadequate investment in essential public services.
The NDC, through its campaign spokesperson, Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, maintained that Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would prioritise accountability and improved management of public resources.
Saturday’s Rivers rally, organised by the Rainbow Coalition associated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, forms part of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
As the campaigns intensify, the records of leading presidential candidates and their previous public offices have become central subjects of political debate.
